BIOGRAPHY

Overkill were one of the first thrash bands. They were formed in New Jersey when a previous D.D. Verni/Rat Skates (real names: Carlos Verni and Lee Kundrat - the stage names were tributes to favourite punk bands, the Ramones featuring Dee Dee Ramone, and the Damned, featuring Rat Scabies... Bobby Blitz was taken from The Dead Boys' Johnny Blitz!) project, a punk band called "The Lubricunts", broke up in 1980. (There's a picture of the Lubricunts demo cover in the "Wrecking Your Neck" liner notes.) D.D. quickly wanted to form a new band, so he put out an ad which was answered by vocalist Bobby Ellsworth. He was also a bass player at the time, but in the new band he would concentrate solely on vocals. He brought with him a guitarist from his old band (a punk/classic rock cover band), whose name is forgotten. After rejecting several names, including "Virgin Killer", this new band finally settled on "Overkill", naming themselves after a Motörhead album.

Early covers (especially those done under the Virgin Killer name in the very very early days) were punk songs for the most part, including selections by the Ramones, and The Dead Boys. By 1980, they had recruited two guitarists (names forgotten over time) and the setlist included songs by Motörhead ("Overkill", half of the Ace of Spades album, and others),
Judas Priest ("Tyrant" was their closer for a while), and later Iron Maiden and Riot, as well as a smattering of punk covers, which were played with extra distortion, intensity, and concentration on riffs, thus marking Overkill as the first thrash band.

In 1981, Dan Spitz (later of
Anthrax) left the band and Rich Conte entered, along with Bobby G. At this point, they started writing originals, including "Grave Robbers" (later renamed to "Raise the Dead"), "Overkill", and "Unleash the Beast Within". This is probably the first thrash metal original, predating James Hetfield and Hugh Tanner's "Hit the Lights" by several months. Jury's still out on the Metal Church works from around this time.

More originals would follow, including "Death Rider" (1981) and "Rotten to the Core" (1982) - somewhere around this time Rich left and Bobby remained the sole guitarist. The band became a staple at New York and New Jersey clubs around 1982, and soon Bobby lived up to his "Blitz" nickname, earning an ejection from the band for a few days in 1983!

Around this time, the green logo was adopted - it was specifically chosen to stand out on a poster with lots of red logos of other bands on the bill.

The lineup would stay consistent until 1987, when "Rat" Skates left the band. It is rumoured that he either became a truck driver, or died in a bizarre gardening accident. In any case, he was replaced by Mark Archibole for a few gigs, and then on a permanent basis Sid Falck, previously of Paul Di'anno's
Battlezone. (Bobby Blitz once said that the only former member he misses is co-founder Rat Skates.) Then, in 1990, Bobby G left and was replaced by Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant (Faith or Fear).

This lineup lasted until 1992, when Tim Mallare came in on drums. Rob and Merritt both left the band in 1995 (Rob became a motorcycle racer, and Merritt formed several other bands), being replaced by Joe Comeau (Liege Lord) and Sebastian Marino. Joe left in 1999 to become the vocalist for Annihilator, and the Coverkill album was recorded with new guitarist Dave Linsk. Sebastian left to spend more time with family, so Linsk played all the guitar parts on 2000's Bloodletting album, and Derek Tailor joined for the subsequent tour, and was also featured on Killbox 13. Tim Mallare left Overkill on his own accord after 14 years with the band in

 

CURRENT MEMBERS:

Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth - Vocals (The Cursed)
Carlos "D.D." Verni - Bass (The Bronx Casket Co.)
Dave Linsk - Lead Guitar (Speed Kill Hate, Fa-Q, Anger on Anger, Zyris)
Derek ''Skull'' Tailer - Rhythm Guitar (Speed Kill Hate, FA.Q)
Ron Lipnicki - Drums (Hades, HavocHate)

FORMER MEMBERS:

Drums:
Rat Skates aka Lee Kundrat (Broken Bones) (1980-87)
Mark Archibole (Warlock) (1987)
Bob 'Sid' Falck (
Battlezone, Freak of Nature) (1987-1992)
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Office of Strategic Influence, Transatlantic, John Arch, Liquid Tension Experiment, Fates Warning) (On one live show on 10-29-2004)
Tim Mallare (The Bronx Casket Co., Speed Kill Hate, M.O.D., FA.Q) (1992-2005)

Guitars:
Dan Spitz (
Anthrax, Thrasher) (1980-81)
Rich Conte (1981)
Bobby Gustafson (Response Negative, I4NI, Grip Inc., Skrew) (1981-1990)
Rob Cannavino (Ride Inc.) (1990-95)
Merritt Gant (Faith or Fear) (1990-95)
Joe Comeau (Liege Lord, Annihilator, Jack Frost, Tad Morose, Painmuseum, Ramrod) (1995-99)
Sebastian Marino (Ramrod, Anvil, Liege Lord) (1995-2000)

DISCOGRAPHY

Power In Black (Demo 1983)

1.)Overkill

2.)The Beast Within

3.)There's No Tomorrow

4.)Deathrider

5.)Raise The Dead

Notes: Overkill's forst demo. Recorded March-Sept, 1983. "at two shitholes, Staten Island NY and Sterling NJ". "Death Rider" appeared on Metal Massacre V in 1984. Most of the songs were written around 1982-83, with the notable exceptions of "The Beast Within" and "Raise the Dead", which are both from 1981 when Bobby G and Rich Conte were in the band. "Raise the Dead" was originally called "Grave Robbers"  "Dedicated to all the false faggot poser wimps of the clubs. Stick this tape up your ass." "Cartridge must not be left exposed to direct sunlight, or else it will get fucked up. Leave in player when not in use."

NO COVER ART

Feel The Fire (Demo 1984)

1.)Feel The Fire

2.)Second Son (Live)

3.)Kill At Command (Live)

Notes: More of a promo tape, than a demo. The studio version of "Feel the Fire" (different from 1985 version) was recorded in September, 1983, and appeared on the New York Metal '84 compilation. Two live tracks of quality "blood metal" are on the other side of this tape. They were recorded 1/13/84 (in the "fucking snow"), and simulcast on 93.3 WMSC, "Death Radio" with The Maniac. Not generally distributed, only a few copies were made for record labels and radio stations.

Overkill (EP 1985)

1.)Rotten To The Core

2.)Fatal If Swallowed

3.)The Answer

4.)Overkill

Notes: This was originally recorded as a demo in November 1984. When the band was strapped for cash, they sold it to Azra/Metal Storm records, who pressed it as the legendary Overkill EP in 1985. The EP was later remastered and reissued on the "Fuck You And Then Some!!!" CD.

Feel the Fire

Feel The Fire (1985)

1.)Raise The Dead

2.)Rotten To The Core

3.)There's No Tomorrow

4.)Second Son

5.)Hammerhead

6.)Feel The Fire

7.)Blood And Iron

8.)Kill At Command

9.)Overkill

10.)Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover)

Comments/Review: Just a truly awesome album here, from start to finish, a true thrashterpiece from the east coast!

Taking Over

Taking Over (1986)

1.)Deny The Cross

2.)Wreckin Crew

3.)Fear His Name

4.)Use Your Head

5.)Fatal If Swallowed

6.)Powersurge

7.)In Union We Stand

8.)Electro-Violence

9.)Overkill II (The Nightmare Continues)

Notes: A video was made for "In Union We Stand"

Fuck You (EP 1987)

1.)Fuck You

2.)Rotten To The Core (Live)

3.)Hammerhead (Live)

4.)Use Your Head (Live)

5.)Electro-Violence (Live)

Notes: The song "Fuck You" is originally by punk band D.O.A. This EP was re-released on Caroline records in 1990 with the bonus track "Fuck You" (Live). Was later remastered and re-released with bonus tracks as "Fuck You And Then Some" in 1996. Live tracks recorded in 115 F heat at the Phantasy Theatre, Cleveland, OH, June 2, 1987.

NO COVER ART

Hello From The Gutter (Single 1988)

1.)Hello From The Gutter

2.)Head First

Under The Influence (1988)

1.)Shred

2.)Never Say Never

3.)Hello From The Gutter

4.)Mad Gone World

5.)Brainfade

6.)Drunken Wisdom

7.)End Of The Line

8.)Head First

9.)Overkill III (Under The Influence)

Notes: There was a video made for "Hello From The Gutter"

The Years Of Decay (1989)

1.)Time To Kill

2.)Elimination

3.)I Hate

4.)Nothing To Die For

5.)Playing With Spiders/Skullkrusher

6.)Birth Of Tension

7.)Who Tends The Fire

8.)The Years Of Decay

9.)E.vil N.ever D.ies

Notes: There was a video made for "Elimination".

horrorscope.jpg picture by DeathCult88

Horrorscope (1991)

1.)Coma

2.)Infectious

3.)Blood Money

4.)Thanx For Nothin'

5.)Bare Bones

6.)Horrorscope

7.)New Machine

8.)Frankenstein (Edgar Winter cover)

9.)Live Young, Die Free

10.)Nice Day...For A Funeral

11.)Soulitude

Notes: There was a video made for "Horrorscope". Both covers are pictured.

NO COVER ART AVAILABLE

Live To The Core (EP 1992)

1.)Hole In The Sky (Black Sabbath cover)

2.)E.vil N.ever D.ies

3.)Rotten To The Core

4.)Second Son

5.)Hammerhead

6.)Overkill

NO COVER ART

Infectious (Single 1992)

1.)Infectious

Notes: Promo single.

I Hear Black (Single 1993)

1.)I Hear Black

2.)I Hear Black (edit)

NO COVER ART

Spiritual Void (Single 1993)

1.)Spiritual Void

2.)Killogy

I Hear Black (1993)

1.)Dreaming In Columbian

2.) I Hear Black

3.)World Of Hurt

4.)Feed My Head

5.)Shades Of Gray

6.)Spiritual Void

7.)Ghost Dance

8.)Weight Of The World

9.)Ignorance & Innocence

10.)Undying

11.)Just Like You

12.)Killogy

Notes: "Killogy" is only on the Japenese version.

Fast Junkie (Single 1994)

1.)Fast Junkie

2.)Gasoline Dream

W.F.O. (1994)

1.)Where It Hurts

2.)Fast Junkie

3.)The Wait/New Highs In Lows

4.)They Eat Their Young

5.)What's Your Problem

6.)Under One

7.)Supersonic Hate

8.)R.I.P. (Undone)

9.)Up To Zero

10.)Bastard Nation

11.)Gasoline Dream

Notes: The title is Wide Fuckin' Open. The album actually has 99 tracks, the rest from 12 on are silence, with the exception of 98, which has 1:00 of silence then starts in with a song called Heaven And Hell". The intro "The Wait" is an excerpt from the movie "Carlito's Way".

NO COVER ART

Wrecking Your Neck promo (Live EP 1995)

1.)The Wait/New Highs In Lows

2.)Elimination

3.)Rotten To The Core

Notes: All tracks are from the album "Wrecking Your Neck Live".

Wrecking Your Neck (Live 1995)

Disc 1:

1.)Where It Hurts

2.)Infectious

3.)Coma

4.)Supersonic Hate

5.)Wrecking Crew

6.)Powersurge

7.)The Wait/New Highs In Lows

8.)Skullkrusher

9.)Spiritual Void

10.)Hello From The Gutter

11.)Anxiety

12.)Elimination

13.)Fast Junkie

14.)World Of Hurt

Disc 2:

1.)Gasoline Dream

2.)Rotten To The Core

3.)Horrorscope

4.)Under One

5.)New Machine

6.)Thanx For Nothin'

7.)Bastard Nation

8.)Fuck You/War Pigs

Notes: There was a limited edition 3 disc version. The track listing for the 3rd disc is:

1.)Rotten To The Core

2.)Fatal If Swallowed

3.)The Answer

4.)Overkill

US Cover

European Cover

The Killing Kind (1996)

1.)Battle

2.)God-Like

3.)Certifiable

4.)Burn You Down/To Ashes

5.)Let Me Shut That For You

6.)Bold Face Pagan Stomp

7.)Feeding Frenzy

8.)The Cleansing

9.)The Mourning After/Privat Bleeding

10.)Cold, Hard Fact

11.)Cornucopia (Only on Japenese version)

Notes: There was also a 2 CD limited edition version which had a poster. The second disc had absolutely nothing on it, but the following bonus tracks are on CD 1:

11.)Cornucopia

12.)Tyrant

13.)Killogy

Fuck You and Then Some

Fuck You And Then Some (1996)

1.)Fuck You

2.)Rotten To The Core (Live)

3.)Hammerhead (Live)

4.)Use Your Head (Live)

5.)Electro-Violence (Live)

6.)Fuck You (Live)

7.)Hole In The Sky (Live)

8.)E.vil N.ever D.ies (Live)

9.)Rotten To The Core

10.)Fatal If Swallowed

11.)The Answer

12.)Overkill

Notes: Tracks 1-6 are the original "Fuck You" EP. Tracks 7 & 8 were recorded live at The Ritz, January 27th, 1990. Tracks 9-12 are the "Overkill EP".

The Rip N' Tear (Single 1997)

1.)The Rip N' Tear

From The Underground And Below (1997)

1.)It Lives

2.)Save Me

3.)Long Time Dyin'

4.)Genocya

5.)Half Past Dead

6.)F.U.C.T.

7.)I'm Alright

8.)The Rip N' Tear

9.)Promises

10.)Little Bit O' Murder

11.)Space Truckin' (Deep Purple Cover, Only on Japenese version)

Notes: Was rereleased in 2003 with "Necroshine" as a two disc box set.

Necroshine

Necroshine (1999)

1.)Necroshine

2.)My December

3.)Let Us Prey

4.)80 Cycles

5.)Revelation

6.)Stone Cold Jesus

7.)Forked Tongue Kiss

8.)I Am Fear

9.)Black Line

10.)Dead Man

11.)No Feelings (Only on Japenese version)

Notes: Rereleased in 2003 with "From The Underground And Below" as a two disc box set.

Coverkill

Coverkill (1999)

1.)Overkill (Motorhead cover)

2.)No Feelings (Sex Pistols cover)

3.)Hymn 43 (Jethro Tull cover)

4.)Changes (Black Sabbath cover)

5.)Space Truckin' (Deep Purple cover)

6.)Deuce (Kiss cover)

7.)Never Say Die (Black Sabbath cover)

8.)Death Tone (Manowar cover)

9.)Cornucopia (Black Sabbath cover)

10.)Tyrant (Judas Priest cover)

11.)Ain't Nothin' To Do (Dead Boys cover)

12.)I'm Against It (Ramones cover)

Notes: An album of cover songs. This is the only album where Motorhead's song "Overkill" is played. The song "Overkill" that appears on Overkill's other releases and played live is THEIR OWN ORIGINAL SONG.

Bloodletting

Bloodletting (2000)

1.)Thunderhead

2.)Bleed Me

3.)What I'm Missin'

4.)Death Comes Out To Play

5.)Let It Burn

6.)I, Hurricane

7.)Left Hand Man

8.)Blown Away

9.)My Name Is Pain

10.)Can't Kill A Dead Man

11.)We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (Animals cover, only on Japenese version)

NO COVER ART AVAILABLE

Masters Of Destruction: Live From The Longhorn (Compilation 2000)

1.)Intro-Ave Satani

2.)The Battle

3.)Hello From The Gutter

4.)Bleed Me

5.)Bastard Nation

6.)Necroshine

7.)Thunderhead

8.)Rotten To The Core

9.)Elimination

10.)In Union We Stand

11.)Long Time Dyin' (Live)

12.)Fuck You (Live)

13.)Skullcrusher (Live)

14.)Fuck You/Hate Medley (Live)

Notes: Promotional CD for radio broadcasts only, not a bootleg as some claim it to be. Although, it is pretty easy to find the occasional copy in used CD stores. While there is cover art, its near impossible to locate, and if I find it, I'll add it.

Hello from the Gutter

Hello From The Gutter (Compilation 2002)

Disc 1:

1.)Hello From The Gutter (Live)

2.)Necroshine

3.)God-Like

4.)Powersurge (Live)

5.)Never Say Die (Black Sabbath cover)

6.)Coma (Live)

7.)The Rip N' Tear

8.)Battle

9.)Electro-Violence (Live)

10.)Thunderhead

11.)Overkill

12.)Fuck You

Disc 2:

1.)Rotten To The Core

2.)Bleed Me

3.)Long Time Dyin'

4.)Fatal If Swallowed

5.)Elimination (Live)

6.)Black Line

7.)Overkill

8.)World Of Hurt (Live)

9.)Hammerhead

10.)Skullcrusher (Live)

11.)Kill At Command

12.)Bastard Nation (Live)

Notes: There is some dispute as to whether this is offical or not, as it doesn't appear on Overkill's website.

Wrecking Everything: Live

Wrecking Everything: Live (Live 2002)

1.)Necroshine

2.)Thunderhead

3.)E.vil N.ever D.ies

4.)Deny The Cross

5.)I Hate

6.)Shred

7.)Bleed Me

8.)Long Time Dyin'

9.)It Lives

10.)Battle

11.)The Years Of Decay

12.)In Union We Stand

13.)Overkill

Extended Versions (Live 2002)

1.)Coma

2.)Hello From The Gutter

3.)Elimination

4.)World Of Hurt

5.)Wrecking Crew

6.)Powersurge

7.)Rotten To The Core

8.)Horrorscope

9.)Skullkrusher

10.)Thanx For Nothin'

Notes: This is a repackeged version of "Wrecking Your Neck Live" with fewer tracks.

Then & Now

Then And Now (Compilation 2002)

1.)Necroshine

2.)Thunderhead

3.)Long Time Dyin'

4.)It Lives

5.)Battle

6.)What I'm Missing

7.)New Machine (Live)

8.)Infectious (Live)

9.)Tyrant (Judas Priest cover)

10.)Hymn 43 (Jethro Tull cover)

11.)Revelation

12.)Cold, Hard Fact

Kill Box 13

Killbox 13 (2003)

1.)Devil By The Tail

2.)Damned

3.)No Lights

4.)The One

5.)Crystal Clear

6.)The Sound Of Dying

7.)Until I Die

8.)Struck Down

9.)Unholy

10.)I Rise

11.)Hello From The Gutter (Live, only on Japenese version)

12.)Elimination (Live, only on Japenese version)

Unholy

Unholy (Compilation 2004)

Disc 1:

1.)Necroshine

2.)Thunderhead

3.)E.vil N.ever D.ies

4.)Deny The Cross

5.)I Hate

6.)Shred

7.)Bleed Me

8.)Long Time Dyin'

9.)It Lives

10.)Battle

11.)The Years Of Decay

12.)In Union We Stand

13.)Overkill

Disc 2:

1.)Devil By The Tail

2.)Damned

3.)No Lights

4.)The One

5.)Crystal Clear

6.)The Sound Of Dying

7.)Until I Die

8.)Struck Down

9.)Unholy

10.)I Rise

Notes: Compilation of "Wrecking Everything: Live", and "Killbox 13".

ReliXIV (2005)

1.)Within Your Eyes

2.)Love

3.)Loaded Rack

4.)Bats in The Belfry

5.)A Pound Of Flesh

6.)Keeper

7.)Wheelz

8.)The Mark 2:14

9.)Play The Ace

10.)Old School

11.)Coma (Live at  Club Citta, 2004. Only on Japenese edition.)

Devil By The Tail (Compilation 2005)

Disc 1:

1.)Devil By The Tail

2.)Damned

3.)No Lights

4.)One

5.)Crystal Clear

6.)Sound Of Dying

7.)Until I Die

8.)Struck Down

9.)Unholy

10.)I Rise

11.)Necroshine

12.)Thunderhead

Disc 2:

1.)E.vil N.ever D.ies

2.)Deny The Cross

3.)I Hate

4.)Shred

5.)Bleed Me

6.)Long Time Dyin'

7.)It Lives

8.)Battle

9.)The Years Of Decay

10.)In Union We Stand

11.)Overkill

VIDEOGRAPHY

 

Videoscope (1991)

1.)In Union We Stand

2.)Hello From The Gutter

3.)Elimination

4.)Horrorscope

Notes: In addition to the 4 videos, this release contains interviews,rehearsal footage, live footage, studio footage from the recording of "Horrorscope".

Wrecking Everything (2002)

Live Concert:

Necroshine
Thunderhead
E.Vil N.Ever D.Ies
Deny the Cross
Wrecking Crew
Powersurge
Gasoline Dream
I Hate
Coma
Shred
Hello From the Gutter
Bleed Me
Guitar Solo
Long Time Dyin'
It Lives
Battle
Spiritual Void
The Years of Decay
In Union We Stand
Overkill
Horrorscope
Rotten To the Core
Elimination
Fuck You / War Pigs

Notes: Recorded live in Asbury Park, NJ, March 23rd, 2002. This is the same concert as the CD, but this is the full show. Also came with a second disc containing interviews and concert footage going as far back as 1983. "This is fuckin' New Jersey! This is where "Fuck You" was born!"